It's a good read. Addresses concerns while also acknowledging positive changes. I mean they do say they expect us to be the most improved team in the division, but we have a long climb up.

Would have been cool if he at least picked us third. Me being the homer I am, I believe we will win the East.

I agree with others comments though, it would be nice to not hear the same old beating drum about the Skins, things have changed but it will take us winning for a few seasons in a row before people will start to look at this franchise as relevenant again. I think MS and BA will return us to glory.

Anybody want some KOOLAID, I have plenty on tap. ( Mixed liquor and purple drank in so it is a particulary potent version of Redskins koolaid. I actually renamed it Burgandy Lean )

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Last edited by artmonkforhallofamein07; 07-22-2010 at 10:26 PM.
Reason: errors

The article had some good solid facts but I would disagree that our 3 top backs are not washed up. CP is reported to be in the best shape of his career. LJ has very few miles on him the last 2 season. Fast Willie has been injured but still should have a burst. I like our backfield and we have 3 backs that can carried the load if if and when called upon.

I also like the off season signing of Carriker , Holiday, Kemo , and Chris Draft to help our defense transition into the 3-4 def.

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I've said it before and will again: I think I'm rooting for Torain more than any other player.

I am eager to see this guy in action too.
I know little about him, but what I know is that Mel Kiper loved this kid coming out of college, saying he was #2 Sr RB...only problem is that the guy is always injured, and was at the time with a bad foot.
The other thing is he is not a burner...a 4.5/4.6 40 guy.
(clocked at 4.6 while rehabbing)
Because of that and his tendancy to hit hard...he is a between the tackles guy..I don't know if he can block...(a player of this style usually loves to block) Shanny loved the kid...said he was one of the best he's seen.

He hasn't played a full season or even half of one since his Junior year.
He lost half a season as a senior due to a foot injury(Lisfranc midfoot), broke an elbow as a rookie in Denver and last preseason tore a ACL in his knee and went out for the whole season. A torn ACL and not playing last year is pretty concerning. I would think speed issues combined with knee and foot injury history could affect ability to make sharp cuts. I would watch for inability to turn the corner in preseason...probably not a guy to run sweeps...more of a fullback style back...that may be limiting.
I would expect him to be able to get tough yards up the gut.
He apparantly can catch really well too, he hits hard and does not go down easy.

On paper this guy should have a legit shot to make #3 RB over Parker.
If we sign Westbrook though...I doubt he has a shot...they'd essentially have to carry 4 backs to keep him (excluding FBs) I doubt that is likely.

Hopefully this kid is fully healed and his speed times are understated.
That, and the injuries are why he was in the 5th round.

I think it is Portis, Johnson, and either Westbrook or Torrain in that order That looks pretty solid to me.

It's wrong from the first line. Snyder is taking a new hands-off approach. Losing Vinny was also a huge change for the organization.

Shanahan and Allen are transforming this team, addressing needs that were long ignored (O-line, True Franchise QB) and making changes we've never seen before (3-4 defense).

This is a path we've never traveled down before. Sure, there is the alleged similarity to the "Over the Hill Gang", but not entirely, as we have a good young core of young players as well as experienced. Where we could not fill gaps with rookies and young talent with upside, we've plugged with proven vets.

Of course, it is the NY Times, tough to take their sports analysis seriously. It's also easy for any media source to just recycle the same annual arguments and insults against the Redskins and Dan Snyder. If they were REALLY paying attention like we do as fans, they'd see a completely new path and attitude at Redskins Park.

Read the article's first sentence, then my post.

So you and the NYT agree that Snyder is still trying to buy an on-field fantasy team and is controlling football decisions?

If you can't see an entirely different, new direction from past years...I don't know what to say.

This season, we're being run by real football geniuses and most years' blind hope is real, substantiated optimism this year. We've fixed so many MAJOR issues with the team very quickly.

Also, comparing Shanahan to Spurrier as "flashy" is laughable...there is no comparison between the two. A rookie NFL coach from a big time recruiting school to a 2-time Super Bowl winner?

Saying we'll have a non-explosive offense? The line, as the article called possibly formidable, with McNabb and Shanahan's running game...with two Pro Bowl-caliber TEs...won't be explosive? I think Portis will have a great year and LJ reducing his load will only help.

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So you and the NYT agree that Snyder is still trying to buy an on-field fantasy team and is controlling football decisions?

If you can't see an entirely different, new direction from past years...I don't know what to say.

This season, we're being run by real football geniuses and most years' blind hope is real, substantiated optimism this year. We've fixed so many MAJOR issues with the team very quickly.

Also, comparing Shanahan to Spurrier as "flashy" is laughable...there is no comparison between the two. A rookie NFL coach from a big time recruiting school to a 2-time Super Bowl winner?

Saying we'll have a non-explosive offense? The line, as the article called possibly formidable, with McNabb and Shanahan's running game...with two Pro Bowl-caliber TEs...won't be explosive? I think Portis will have a great year and LJ reducing his load will only help.

We did sign McNabb and a host of old vet RBs and nowhere in the article does it say he's is "controlling football decisions." The article articulates that there is no difference between now and then except for Allen. First you had Marty, then Spurrier, then Gibbs, then Zorn, and now Shanahan. Do you see a pattern?

I don't know how any rational human being can't see the article for what it is...a good article. In fact I was surprised how good it was because NYT isn't really know for its in-depth sports analysis outside of the NY area.

Contrary to popular belief, the Washington Redskins are not driving down a different road in 2010. They’re driving down the same Dan Snyder highway – they’re just in a faster, fancier car. At least this time Snyder minion Vinny Cerrato isn’t behind the wheel. But once again, the Skins enter a season with a new high-profile coach. Things didn’t work out with offensive maharishi Steve Spurrier, and results were lukewarm under multi-Super Bowl champion Joe Gibbs. (And the Jim Zorn era managed to live down to expectations.) So, this time, they’re trying a mix: offensive maharishi and multi-Super Bowl champion, Mike Shanahan.

Shanahan has final say on all football operations, but he works closely with new G.M. Bruce Allen. Upon being hired last December, Allen, in a nod to the past, said, “The future is now.” (Allen’s father, George, took over the Redskins as coach in 1971 and immediately began trading future draft picks for proven veterans, many of whom had played for him in Los Angeles. At one of his first press conferences, he said, “The future is now.”)

I don't see the word "flashy" here nor any mention of Snyder controlling football decisions

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So you and the NYT agree that Snyder is still trying to buy an on-field fantasy team and is controlling football decisions?

If you can't see an entirely different, new direction from past years...I don't know what to say.

This season, we're being run by real football geniuses and most years' blind hope is real, substantiated optimism this year. We've fixed so many MAJOR issues with the team very quickly.

Also, comparing Shanahan to Spurrier as "flashy" is laughable...there is no comparison between the two. A rookie NFL coach from a big time recruiting school to a 2-time Super Bowl winner?

Saying we'll have a non-explosive offense? The line, as the article called possibly formidable, with McNabb and Shanahan's running game...with two Pro Bowl-caliber TEs...won't be explosive? I think Portis will have a great year and LJ reducing his load will only help.

Have to agree with you on that last point...this guy can say what he wants about the OL but for every detractor out there saying the OL is a mess, there is someone out there saying the OL is already the best in the division and one of the best in the league. Don't want to drown in the kool-aid so I think we are somewhere in the middle -- with a new group, an untested rookie, I think we have a solid not stellar OL with plenty of upside but certainly miles better than the scrub unit we fielded last year.

This is the year that Davis shows he is not only an elite tight end but pass-catcher in this league. McNabb has already said that Davis can play and that is big praise coming from someone who has played in the league for 10 years. Shanahan is a good teacher and it was under him that Portis had the two best seasons of his career.

All in all, the same old rehashed Redskins bashing...but something is afoot. This team is going places.